Deutsch: Fungizid / Español: Fungicida / Português: Fungicida / Français: Fongicide / Italiano: Antioidico
Fungicides are biocidal chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality, and profit. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals. Chemicals used to control oomycetes, which are not fungi, are also referred to as fungicides as oomycetes use the same mechanisms as fungi to infect plants.
In an industrial context, fungicides are chemical substances used to control or prevent the growth of fungi and fungal diseases on plants, crops, and other surfaces. Fungicides are widely used in the agriculture industry, as well as in other industries such as forestry, horticulture, and food processing. Here are some examples of fungicides in different contexts:
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Agriculture: Fungicides are used in agriculture to protect crops from fungal diseases that can affect crop yield and quality. Examples of fungicides used in agriculture include copper-based fungicides, triazole fungicides, and strobilurin fungicides.
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Forestry: Fungicides are used in forestry to protect trees from fungal diseases that can lead to defoliation, growth loss, and tree death. Examples of fungicides used in forestry include Bordeaux mixture, copper fungicides, and systemic fungicides.
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Horticulture: Fungicides are used in horticulture to prevent and control fungal diseases that can damage flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Examples of fungicides used in horticulture include sulfur fungicides, chlorothalonil fungicides, and mancozeb fungicides.
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Food processing: Fungicides are used in the food processing industry to prevent the growth of fungi on food products, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Examples of fungicides used in food processing include propionic acid, sorbic acid, and sodium benzoate.
Other terms related to fungicides in industrial contexts include:
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Pesticides: Chemical substances used to control pests, including insects, weeds, and fungi.
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Herbicides: Chemical substances used to control or kill weeds.
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Insecticides: Chemical substances used to control or kill insects.
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Fungistatic agents: Substances that inhibit the growth of fungi, but do not necessarily kill them.
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Biofungicides: Fungicides derived from natural sources, such as bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts.